Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-06-24
A RUNAWAY MATCH.

A ponderous step sounded in the mar
row hallway and succession of thun-
dering knocks made ray door rattle on
it's hinges. I recognized that heavy
STEP so like the tread of an enraged
elephant, and wondered what, under
heaven had brought Maj. Philpot to
zny humble lodgings. Before I could
answer the raps, the door was burst vi
olently open, disclosing the colossal
figure of the choleric major, who, evil
IDENTIFY in towering rage, stalked across
the floor, and seated himself in the on
ly safe chair the place afforded. I am
far from being rich man, you under
stand.
"Hope I see you WE'LL" I began, po-
itely, scarcely knowing just how to
take him, for his uncertain temper was
subject for comment by all who knew
or had ever heard Of him.
"Hope you do, sir; yes SIR" roared
he, bringing his cane down on the floor
with bang. You're old George
Green, amt your"
II am George Green, at your service,
sir" said I, smothering my indignation
at his brusque manner, "and, as to my
age"
"To the ID with your age, mani"
knV,u >t.,,l $I,n rr1t1,
"Who the deuce cares how old you are?
Keep that as q choice morsel for tea
drinking women. I came to see you
to- day because have heard about you,
and ara told you are the very man I
want to do business with"
"You do me proudw said I, as the
major paused for want Of breath.
"Shall be happy to serve You in my
small way, if"
''Lord save usp calculated the major,
growing alarmingly red in the face in his
efforts to make himself heard the full
length of the block. "Why on earth
don't you keep still and let me speak.
Only one man may talk when I'm
around, aud I'm that man! Dye hear
that?"
''Anybody can hear you that chooses
to listen, if he isn't as deaf as door
post"
The major is rich man and am not,
but there the difference in favor of the
major ends; and perhaps nobody ever
had talked to him like this before. Any
way he Gained down,a trifle.
''I'm told you are detective" he
growLed, in a deep bass that had all
ths effect of pent-up thunder in my lit
tie room"
II am"
81 fattered myself that if, as they
say it is, "brevity is the soul Of wit,
my reply must absolutely have had
paralyzing effect on the doughty major.
But nothing of the sort. On the con-
trary, he actually seemed to be pleased
had said so little.
9TH tell you what it is, Green" he
broke out presently, in stentoriar
tone, "I'm in g. dreadful fix, and l want
your help. Understand"
"Perfectly."
"Theras my daughter. You've heard
of my daughter, haven't you?"
"Often."
'"And she's got no end Of beaux and
such like fol-de-rols. They all swear
by the crook of her little finger that
she's the one object of the world worth
having"
"To be sure"
<'And what with the fifty thousApd
dollars that her grandmother left her
fifty thousand gold dollars think of it |!
Il don't feel inclined to dispute the
point. By ardent young men, ladies
with fifty thousand dollar bank accounts
are objects to be desired, and my Arabel-
la seems to be no exception. But, sir"
and the irate father brought his mighty
fist down with resounding whack
on his ponderous leg that threatened to
split the broadcloth, and rising to his
full height, he fairly beloved, IF my
daughter Arabella's Judgment is blinded
by the little god called Cupid, Arabel-
las dad, sir, is up and coming, and feels
himself able to cope with q thousand
fortune hunting lovers; let them come
singly or in pairs--or in battalions,
even !" - Z" -
i've no doubt about that" as the
major paused to gather In little wind
and glared wickedly from the corner of
his one eye; "and, if I understand: it,
you want my assistance in outwitting
the rascals," =. a..,. ..>s.>.. ,.,,.1.. --,.,
CHATS che very thing!" roared he,
in tone that made the windows rattle.
.. "That's just it, exactly! You've hut the
nail slap on the headl It's this way:
My Arabella has actually lost her senses,
and gone head over heels in love with
Young Pillkins-knowh him 2"
Intimately" #tE%:-@ <z y
. "Poorer than church mouse. prouder
than Lucifer, and demned Democrat
in politicsl By the Lord Harry! Ara
bella needn't think for minute that
she can foist young Pillkins on her old
dad a. his son-in-law, No, Stree. ]
hate his poverty. Ihate his pride. /
= hate his demnition politics. ! hate his
| very name-Pi llkins -pah |" r.
Pillkins was lawyer, and once upon
time had been q rival of my own. He
was proud; he was poor; and, moreover,
he was my sworn enemy. If I could
spoil his prospects Of marriage with the
. majors heiress. i determined to do so.
Here was my revenge, and revenge Is
sweet. That is, those whe have had
an Upper unity to know say it is, and
believe them. Es &55
.Pillkins knows what 4 think Of his
trying to marry my daughter. I've told
him. Not only have { told him in plain
words that he is 4 fortune- huuter, bnt
I enforced il by kicking him OF the
front piazza no longer ago than this
III morning, went on tho maiior.
& And Whist did he SAY rs that q
Say & roared Philpot. pranGng ang,
] rily Kbout tho room. Good Lord ne
int ret mp. bowed politel, lifted his